Newcastle salvage point but fail to ease nerves

Hull 1 Newcastle1: Newcastle are pushed closer towards relegation by Hull as they draw at the KC Stadium

Newcastle remain so troubled a family, it is a surprise that Julie Myerson doesn't plan to feature them in her next novel. Maybe she should collaborate with Mike Ashley, whose demeanour briefly brightened after Steven Taylor's first-half equaliser, but he mostly sat wearing an expression of stoicism which has become so familiar. If the club's owner, who surveys his investment decreasing in value by the week, anticipated that United's favourite son could transform Newcastle's fortunes here, he was to be disabused of that impression by the interval.

Michael Owen started his first game for six weeks after recovering from with ankle ligament injury - during which period his team had failed to register a league victory - and got just one opportunity in the 72 minutes before being substituted when he contrived to back-head Geremi's free kick over the bar in the first half. He danced a little jig of frustration. It